2010 Prius Preview, L.A. WOW it was FUN!!

Hi Bob,

I did not take a photo that shows the old and new MGs together, so that you can more easily compare the relative sizes. However my impression was that MG2 in both units was around the same size while MG1 in the 2010 was definitely smaller. Another big difference is that the chain in the old unit was replaced by gearing in the 2010.

I did not think to ask about the gear ratios or the MG1 shielding. There was no evidence of coolant or lubricant piping, and that probably would be integral to the case which had been removed for this display.

You are exactly right. I took photos of each side of the inverter but didn't want to bore the group with all of the photos.

However I failed to get photos of the top of the inverter (with the cover removed) and of the sign explaining the differences between the 2G vs. 2010 inverters; because I was distracted.

 

Yeah, distracted taking photo's of babes.....Patrick Wong!!

 

Does the roof of the 2010 no longer have the two indentations? The best pics of the top are of the moonroof/solar panel option, and that definitely has a need for a flat roof, but is it also changed for the other models?

 

what kind of mpg did you guys get on the test drive?

 

How many people were invited to the event ???

Keith

 

I agree, but it seems fair to point out the following from an AutoBlogGreen article linked in the EPA thread:

"Out in Napa, Prius chief engineer Otsuka managed to get 62.9 mpg on a 34-mile route through the city and countryside. He challenged us to "Beat the Chief" along the same route."

 

I understand you have the NDA on the driving experience but can you share how the Exhaust Heat Recovery system performed? Did it allow the gas engine to shutdown more often?

 

A lot more than actually showed up, apparently. I noticed a large number of pre-set name tags sitting on the check-in table towards the end of the event, so there appeared to be a lot of no-shows.

 

Hey Ron,
It was nice to meet and speak to you yesterday. I was the guy from Huntington Beach (wearing a ball cap and Laker's shirt). We talked a bit about your Escapades in Germany

And also nice to meet the rest of the Prius Chat regulars!

Brad in HB!

Here's my '05 when it was new along PCH in HB!

 

What really impressed me at the LA show, in addition to the excellent food, the T-shirts and other give-away goodies, together with the driving experience (mums the word!), were the displays showing the re-engineered transaxle.

The Prius engineers have eliminated the silent chain to the final drive, and in the process re-packaged MG2, the PSD and MG1 into a much smaller volume, along with a 25% reduction in weight of this combination. That is quite an achievement. It also puts out more power at higher speed using less torque to the final drive system, so the final drive step-down gearing has to be around 6:1 at a guess.

 

Hi Brad, it was nice to meet you too, along with the other PCers at the show. Toyota did a class act, together with the cars that were made available to drive.

That super-white sure looks pretty in the sunlight!

 

Cargo space should be a legitimate question now, so I have a question ...

If any of you have or had a Subaru wagon, how does the PIII cargo space compare, with rear seats folded down?

My household's road trip volume expanded to fit the Subaru, and it will be difficult to shrink again. And the spouse is still a bit skeptical of my schemes. Because we don't fill above the lower glass line, and much of the Subaru's larger volume is above that glass, I've been thinking that PII is on barely smaller than what we use now. PII cargo length (driver's seat to hatch) appears to be 4 inches shorter, but the trunk is also several inches wider. And it seems that PIII has grown a bit.

I know we can travel smaller, as the Accord Hatchback was sufficient at one time. But it is hard to stuff the genie back into the bottle.